Haryana assembly has passed the Haryana Control of Organised Crime Bill(HCOCA),2019 on the lines of a Maharashtra Actto check organised crime.The bill was brought in view of the emerging situation of organised crime in the State.

Key Facts :

• The bill will empower the state government with powers to intercept wire, electronic or oral communication to control the menace of organised crime.
• According to the Bill,whoever commits an offence of organised crime and if it results in the death of any person, it will be punishable with death or imprisonment for life and also be liable to a fine which will not be less than ?1 lakh.
• In any other case,the offender shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to a fine not less than ?5 lakh.
• Such a strong legislation will also suitably empower the police in a lawful manner to take strong and deterrent, but lawful action against the criminals.
• Special provisions also need to be enacted for forfeiture of the property acquired from proceeds of crimes and to create a provision for special courts and special prosecutor for handling the trials of offences under this Act.
• Whoever holds any property derived or obtained from commission of an organised crime shall be punishable with a term not less than three years which can extend to life imprisonment.
• Every offence punishable under this Act shall be tried by the Special Court within whose local jurisdiction.
• The trial of any offence under this Act by a Special Court shall have precedence over the trial of any other case against the accused in any other court (not being a special court).
• Giving stringent powers to intercept wires, a police officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police supervising the investigation of an organised crime under this Act may submit an application in writing to the competent authority for an order authorising or approving the interception of wire, electronic or oral communication by the investigating officer when such interception may provide or has provided evidences of any offence involving an organised crime.
• A study of crime trends in Haryana during the last decade has revealed that the state has been witnessing a shift in the patterns of crime.
• While earlier heinous crimes such as murder, dacoity, robbery, kidnapping and extortion were committed by individuals acting alone or in concert, the last decade has witnessed the rise of gangsterism and organised crime in Haryana.
• Instances have come to notice where organised criminal gangs operating in certain districts of Haryana have established a well organised network of criminals including shooters, informers, spotters and arms suppliers.
• The Assembly was informed that special legislations have already been enacted in some states.
• Maharashtra had also enacted a similar act which was subsequently adopted by the national capital territory of Delhi.The state of Uttar Pradesh,Gujarat and Karnataka have also enacted their respective Acts.
• Various other Bills including the one regarding Sports University of Haryana in Rai, Sonipat were also passed in the Assembly on Tuesday. Certain Bills including Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Amendment, Group D Employees (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Amendment, Haryana Municipal (Second Amendment), Punjab Electricity (Emergency Powers) Haryana Repeal, Motor Vehicles (Haryana Amendment) Bill were passed to introduce modifications in previous Bills.